Wherever the Flies Are, It Stinks
Published in Die Presse
(Austria) on 8 July 2013
by Wolfgang Böhm (link to original)
(Austria) on 8 July 2013
by Wolfgang Böhm (link to original)
Translated from
by Sean Thacker.
Edited by Bora Mici.
Does it surprise anyone that Europe’s intelligence agencies are cooperating with the U.S. National Security Agency?
No Western country is clean when it comes to this question. Starting with the U.S. after 9/11, the floodgates were opened up for a surveillance state. And the national intelligence agencies have gladly exploited the new opportunities — also in Germany and, to a lesser extent, in Austria. Big Brother — the U.S. — delivered the technology; in return, the doors were opened for him.
It is only natural that wherever intelligence agencies can spy on people, they do it. Their noble purpose gets ignored, particularly when their activities are not subject to legal and democratic controls. European Union countries are not any better in this regard than the U.S. They have allowed too much in the name of the war on terrorism. All the more irritating are statements such as those of Francois Hollande and Angela Merkel, which give the impression that this is purely a problem within the NSA.
It stinks in the constitutional state, which is why such questionable methods are being used.
No Western country is clean when it comes to this question. Starting with the U.S. after 9/11, the floodgates were opened up for a surveillance state. And the national intelligence agencies have gladly exploited the new opportunities — also in Germany and, to a lesser extent, in Austria. Big Brother — the U.S. — delivered the technology; in return, the doors were opened for him.
It is only natural that wherever intelligence agencies can spy on people, they do it. Their noble purpose gets ignored, particularly when their activities are not subject to legal and democratic controls. European Union countries are not any better in this regard than the U.S. They have allowed too much in the name of the war on terrorism. All the more irritating are statements such as those of Francois Hollande and Angela Merkel, which give the impression that this is purely a problem within the NSA.
It stinks in the constitutional state, which is why such questionable methods are being used.